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Lesson 151 of 240

New here? This is lesson 151 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Put it there in German

Jonas wants a clear table before the recycling-app demo. Priya's keys sit in the way, and Anton's coat still needs a hook.

You will tell people where to put something, and say where you already put it.

Legen is for things that lie flat. Stellen is for things that stand. Hängen is for coats and pictures.

When something moves to a new place, German uses den, die or das after the preposition, not the location form.

By the end of this lesson

Say where you put or moved something.

  • Leg es auf den Tisch.Put it on the table.
  • Stell die Flasche in den Kühlschrank.Put the bottle in the fridge.
  • Häng deinen Mantel an den Haken.Hang your coat on the hook.
  • Ich habe die Tasche in die Ecke gestellt.I put the bag in the corner.
  • Leg die Schlüssel bitte neben den Laptop.Please put the keys next to the laptop.
  • Kannst du das Bild an die Wand hängen?Can you hang the picture on the wall?

Scene — the loft table

The co-working loft by the canal is messy. Jonas wants the long table clear for a demo of the recycling app.

Priya's keys sit by her laptop. Anton has just come in with his coat still on, and he needs two chairs.

Jonas checks the time while Priya stands by her laptop and the crowded long table.

Learn — lay, stand, hang

Six lines cover putting something down, standing it up, and hanging it.

You also get a past line for where you already put a bag.

  1. Jonas looks over the cluttered table and checks the time.

    Leg es auf den Tisch.

    Put it on the table.

    When to use it: Tell someone to lay a flat thing on the table.

    Legen is for things that lie flat.

  2. Priya puts the water bottle into the open fridge.

    Stell die Flasche in den Kühlschrank.

    Put the bottle in the fridge.

    When to use it: Tell someone to stand a bottle in the fridge.

    Stellen is for things that stand, not for things that lie flat.

    Say it: Kühlschrank has a rounded ü in the first syllable.

  3. Priya gestures toward the empty wall hook as Anton pauses with his coat still on.

    Häng deinen Mantel an den Haken.

    Hang your coat on the hook.

    When to use it: Tell a friend to hang their coat on the hook.

    Hängen is for coats and pictures, not for things that lie or stand.

  4. Anton sits on two chairs while his bag rests in the corner.

    Ich habe die Tasche in die Ecke gestellt.

    I put the bag in the corner.

    When to use it: Say you already stood a bag in the corner.

    In die Ecke uses die because the bag moved into the corner.

  5. Priya moves the keys from the middle of the table to beside the laptop as Jonas indicates the spot.

    Leg die Schlüssel bitte neben den Laptop.

    Please put the keys next to the laptop.

    When to use it: Ask someone to lay the keys next to the laptop.

    Neben den Laptop uses den because the keys move next to it.

    Say it: Schlüssel starts with sch as one sound.

  6. Jonas hangs the framed picture on the loft wall.

    Kannst du das Bild an die Wand hängen?

    Can you hang the picture on the wall?

    When to use it: Ask a friend to hang a picture on the wall.

    An die Wand uses die because the picture moves onto the wall.

    Say it: Hängen has an open ä in the first syllable.

Story — the table must be clear

Watch the loft before the demo. Jonas wants the table clear, and Anton still needs a chair.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The long table is covered. Jonas checks the time.
  2. JonasDer Tisch muss frei sein für die Demo.The table has to be clear for the demo.
  3. A water bottle still stands by the laptop.
  4. PriyaWohin soll die Flasche?Where should the bottle go?
  5. JonasStell die Flasche in den Kühlschrank.Put the bottle in the fridge.
  6. PriyaKlar.Sure.
  7. She puts the bottle away. Her bag is already off the chair.
  8. JonasUnd die Tasche?And the bag?
  9. PriyaIch habe die Tasche in die Ecke gestellt.I put the bag in the corner.
  10. Anton comes in wearing his dark-green coat.
  11. AntonHallo. Ich brauche Platz.Hello. I need some space.
  12. PriyaHäng deinen Mantel an den Haken.Hang your coat on the hook.
  13. AntonAch so.Oh, right.
  14. He hangs the coat. He still looks for chairs.
  15. PriyaSetz dich.Have a seat.
  16. AntonIch brauche zwei Stühle.I need two chairs.
  17. Keys sit in the middle of the table.
  18. JonasLeg die Schlüssel bitte neben den Laptop.Please put the keys next to the laptop.
  19. A framed picture still leans on the table.
  20. PriyaKannst du das Bild an die Wand hängen?Can you hang the picture on the wall?
  21. JonasJa, mache ich.Yes, I'll do it.
  22. He hangs it. Priya holds a small clicker.
  23. JonasLeg es auf den Tisch.Put it on the table.
  24. PriyaSo, fertig.There, done.
  25. JonasDas sieht gut aus.That looks good.

Practice — where it goes

Ten short tasks wait here. You will listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Fill the gap

    Put it on the table.

    Leg es auf ____ Tisch.

  3. What do you say?

    Anton still has his coat on at the loft. Tell him where to hang it.

  4. Build the line

    I put the bag in the corner.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  5. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Die Schlüssel liegen noch auf dem Tisch.

    The keys are still on the table.

    And you reply with:

  6. What does it mean?

    Kannst du das Bild an die Wand hängen?

  7. Swap the word

    A picture is still on the table. Ask a friend to hang it on the wall.

    Kannst du das Bild an die Wand ____?

  8. What do you say?

    Anton has hung his coat and is still standing. Offer him a seat.

  9. True or false?

    This asks where something is kept.

  10. Find the mistake

Say it — put it down

Now you're Priya at the loft before the demo. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AntonWohin soll ich die Flasche stellen?Where should I put the bottle?
  2. Priya (you)Tell him to put the bottle in the fridge.

    Stell die Flasche in den Kühlschrank.

    Put the bottle in the fridge.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Leg es auf den Tisch.Put it on the table.
Stell die Flasche in den Kühlschrank.Put the bottle in the fridge.
Häng deinen Mantel an den Haken.Hang your coat on the hook.
Ich habe die Tasche in die Ecke gestellt.I put the bag in the corner.
Leg die Schlüssel bitte neben den Laptop.Please put the keys next to the laptop.
Kannst du das Bild an die Wand hängen?Can you hang the picture on the wall?
Next: lesson 152It got taken

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